ANTIQUES
WOULD YOU HAVE PUT THIS OLD
ARMCHAIR
ON THE BONFIRE?
By Vivienne Milburn FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer
If you are clearing out your clutter this January, you might want to think twice before consigning items to the bonfire, writes Vivienne Milburn.
D
ISCOVERED during a house contents’ valuation in Derbyshire, the damaged armchair we have pictured only just escaped the bonfire. Fortunately, when I was asked to value it, I recognised that its very broad seat could be an indication of a Howard & Sons chair. A characteristic of Howard armchairs is that they have very broad seats. The armchair made £6,250 when it was included in a Fine Antique Furniture auction recently. Howard & Sons have been making seating for more than 200 years. They make some of the most comfortable chairs to Above: The 19th century
Bridgewater-type armchair, by Howard & Sons, shown here in its original condition – with an 84cm wide seat – and with later castors. It made £6,250 in a recent specialist auction. Left: Here is an example of a Howard & Sons re-upholstered armchair in a country house. 74 Reflections January 2024
be found at auction. Getting a Howard chair is a must for any traditional English interior. The Howard chair is actually one in a range of chairs and sofas called Bridgewater type. The Deep-Seated Bridgewater armchair was the ‘original’ Bridgewater chair, and it is the most recognisable shape, as well as the most copied. It’s the one we think of when we mention a Howard chair: low and curved, with a generous seat, curved and padded armrests and headrest. An armchair that has proved to be an enduring investment through the years. At present, we are in an upholstery revival, as more antique furniture is rejuvenated by some animal skin fabric upholstery. When assessing upholstered furniture, the understanding is that if a piece has sprung upholstery, it is either Victorian or a later date, as original Georgian upholstery is padded with horsehair and with no metal springs. It is widely thought that the craft of upholstery To advertise call 01246 550488